The NFL Now Podcast begins with
insider news for the Jets who has drafted Randall Cobb.
Host, Andrew Siciliano, is joined by Judy Battista to talk Giants' new additions & their Rookie minicamp. Penn State's James Franklin joins the show. Also, Chiefs and Broncos trading up to get WRs. Plus, much more on this season finale of the NFL Now podcast.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
with iHeartRadio. It is a big day here on NFL
Now because it is our last day for a little bit,
going on a hiatus. We do this every May post
draftso we'll have fun, make it good, and we're happy
(00:27):
that you're here with us. From our newsroom in Los Angeles.
My name is Andrew Ceciliana. Ryan Tannehill's on the podium
in Nashville. Will tell you what you had to say
coming up in a little bit. We open this show
with news, not surprisingly from New York News, that Aaron
Rodgers is getting another one of his buddies to the Jets.
Tom Pelsero have this news this morning. It's the fact
(00:47):
that Randall Cobb is going to New York. Not exactly
a shocker. Their BFFs. They do discount double check commercials together.
But cob is going to be thirty three come August.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
But why not.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It'll be a crowded Wide receiver room. But Tom, it'll
do nothing, you know, to cut down on the Twitter
snark that Rodgers is actually GM He's not. It is
Joe Douglas's job. He did the drafting, but it is
another one of Aaron's buddies.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Aaron Rodgers Randall Cobb are very close friends, and Aaron
Rodgers has spoken multiple times in the past spout he
sees value in keeping older players who might want one
more run at a ring. So he brings Randall Cobb,
the latest former Packer who is going to be headed
to New York on a one year deal. As you mentioned,
Randall Cobbs can be thirty three before the season. He
(01:40):
made one Pro Bowl. He was back in twenty fourteen,
which is nine years ago. At this point, nobody's going
to argue the Randall Cobb is not at this point
a declining player. But again, as you bring in a
new offense with Nathaniel Hack who's very close to Aaron Rodgers,
having a receiver who knows that offense in addition to
Alan Lazard can only help. And we'll see what type
of role if any Erana kobba acsually ends up playing
(02:02):
come the season. Aaron Rodgers, when he came back to
Green Bay in twenty twenty one, also made abundantly clear
if he was coming back, he wanted Randall Cobb to
be coming with him. The Packers traded for Randall Cobb
hit about eight hundred yards over two seasons combined. Here
and now he joins Garret Wilson and Alan Lazard and
me Coole Hardman and Corey Davis who's still on the roster,
and Denzel Mims who's still on the roster. It's going
(02:24):
to be an interesting group to see how this shakes
out and how much, if at all, Randall Cobb gets
on the field.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
He has caught more than five hundred passes from from
Aaron Rodgers, so there certainly has to be some value there.
He can still make some plays. But as we talked
about last hour, what happens if one day Joe Douglas
has to cut Randall Cobbs has become like a Jay
Coomero on the podium. Situation remains to VC. Thank you
Tom Pellisero there. Appreciate you Tom. With the latest Rogers
(02:50):
always having fun with his new teammates. He praised Joe
Douglas when he signed last week when the trade went
down for drafting guys like Aaron Wilson or this guy,
saw Us Gardner. They went to the Knicks game last night.
It's that course side saw the Knicks win, go up
two games to none on the heat like you know,
who wasn't there. We haven't seen Garrett Wilson out on
the town.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Hey man, I just I just asked him this morning.
I said, I was trying to figure ouhy I couldn't
get though tickets to the to the next game yesterday,
and I was watching the ESPN broadcast. I see him
and Sauce and and all that they their group taking
up all the seats, you know, so I got to
figure out how I can get in with them, and
and uh buma seat.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
We know we have in this room.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
We know we've known what we've had in this room,
and then you add someone like that, with the accolades
that he has and the ability that he has, you know,
it's it's I mean, we we expect to compete with
you know, everyone in the league, be everyone in the league,
be one of the better teams in the league. You know,
we'd expect to do that. And you know that's always
been the mindset. And when we did it follow through
(03:50):
on that, we know we've always been upset. But you know,
I'd be lying if I said that we had someone
you know, if Aaron Rodgers pedigree and the expectation you know,
it doesn't go up a little bit, you know, and
and you know that's that's.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's how it is, and this and this industry, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
So we're excited to have him, and we know what
comes with that. We know that all of a sudden,
you know, eyes are on us, and that we got
we got to back it up every time we take
the field, you know, practice or game, and we're excited
to prove that every week.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Garrett Wilson reports.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
I kind of joke and gibts to say he's a
shut in, and hey, it's it's cool that Rogers is
there hanging out with sauce. But whether it's him or
Elijah Vera Tucker or some others today they use the
phrase like starstruck or surreal. I think they're still kind
of getting used to the fact that Rogers is there
and now they're getting Randall Cobb.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Listen.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
I think it's surreal for everybody, including the reporters, to
be honest, it is strange that Aaron Rodgers is out
there on the Jets practice field. I think Randall Cobb,
as you were pointing out earlier, let's see how this
shakes out with Randall Cobb and let's see where we are.
I don't think anybody expects that he is going to
be a monster contributor to the offense once the season starts,
(05:02):
but we have talked about this all along. The whole
point of this is to have Aaron Rodgers be as
comfortable as he can be and to accelerate everybody else's
learning curve. And if Randall Cobb and Alan Lozart can
help tell Garrett Wilson this is what he likes, this
is what he wants you to do, that's all to
the good for the New York Jets. The whole point
(05:23):
is to ease the transition. Aaron Rodgers has been very
candid about that that he knows that there is going
to be a learning curve. He has to learn his
new teammates. His new teammates have to learn him. This
is all part of the process. I don't know if
there are going to be any other former Packers joining
the Jets.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I wouldn't be surprised.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Certainly, the Randall Cobb arrival was not a surprise, but
I think seeing him out there, I don't think there's
any question Garrett Wilson is receiver number one. He is
a super talent and everything that comes after that is
just about trying to get this offense and these players
on the same page with Aaron Rodgers and with Nate
(06:02):
Hackett's offense.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Yeah, everyone's made the Jordy Nell's jokes or the Jay
Kumero jokes. We were joking about Eddie Lacy this morning
in the newsroom as well. I just texted James Jones
who says he can give a few reps, but only
in the red zone. Don't expect him to actually run.
Those are the jets up of the Giants. Because the
Giants duty actually have their rookies in rookie mini camp
this weekend. What are they expecting to see there in
(06:25):
East Rutherford.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
Well, we're going to get a look at a rookie
class that's really been widely heralded as an a class.
They at the first three picks, especially if the draft
addressed big needs for the New York Giants. Deontay Banks
the cornerback, which was the biggest need going into the draft.
Schmidt's the center. He's going to be a Day one starter.
They lost two centers in free agency, and then of
(06:47):
course the wide receiver Jalm Hyatt, which all of the fans.
Giants fans were waiting to see if they were going
to draft. Hyatt fell into their laps. There were some
people who thought he might go late in the first round,
and they grabbed him in the third. So these are
three picks that really could be Day one starters for
the New York Giants. We'll see what they look like
when they get on the fields. But this roster has
undergone a dramatic makeover, especially on the offensive side of
(07:11):
the ball. They've given Daniel Jones a whole bunch of
weapons this offseason, and now it is time to see
what it looks like with Daniel Jones in and as
we turn the page further into the off season, what
they do with Saquon Barkley's contract. When the draft ended,
they said they were going to reconnect with Barkley and
his camp and see if an extension made sense. That
(07:32):
was how they phrased it. So we will see if
it makes sense, and we'll see if there is an
extension in the offing.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Love Rookie Minicamps. First chance to see these guys in
their new jerseys on the field. Five years ago this Friday,
we did our show from East Rutherford just to see
Saquon Barkley in his Giants jersey for the very first time.
Gendie Batista, their life in New York. Thank you, Judy.
It's a pretty cool story here. I know the Deuce
(07:59):
Vaughn story was great with Cowboys's dad Chris Vaughn there obviously,
but the fact that Joey poured Junior is going to
his old man's team. He had to wait until Friday
with the first pick of the second round, but he
is a stealer. It's also Nitney Lai. Here's his head coach,
live from Hatty Valley. James Franklin joins us on NFL Now, Coach,
(08:20):
thanks for taking the time.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
How are you, Paulsome appreciate the opportunity to be with you, guys.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I know Joey wanted to go on Thursday, but this
just felt right, didn't it. This felt perfect. What was
your reaction when you saw the Steelers announce Joey Porter
Junior's name.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Yeah, it was hard, obviously, you sit in that draft
room and around all those families and those other great players,
and you know that's tough, you know, but he handled
it with class like he always does.
Speaker 7 (08:49):
Joey was raised extremely well.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
Mom and Dad did a phenomenal job with him, and
obviously he's got a lot of traits that NFL teams won.
You know, his length is unreal, especially when you talk
about his movement with thirty four inch arms and six
foot two and can flat out run. I think they're
gonna love them. So I'm just happy things worked out
(09:12):
the way they did. Obviously, you know, waiting to day
two was a little bit challenging, but then he came
off quickly and went to his hometown Steelers, which is awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
You know, some of the best conversations here's some of
the conversations that obviously coaches and GM's used the most
are conversations with head coaches like yourself. So how does
that conversation go though between you and say Mike Tomlin
when Mike Tomins known him since he was a little kid.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
Yeah, there wasn't a whole lot that we needed to
tell those guys.
Speaker 7 (09:41):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
You know, Joey's been not only around the organization since
the time he was a young kid. I loved that
picture right there, but even like in training camps and
everything else, he's just been around the you know, the
organization and the whole, you know, the whole organization.
Speaker 7 (09:58):
Knows him, obviously.
Speaker 6 (09:59):
Coach Tomlin knows him extremely well. So there's a lot
of value that comes with that. They know the type
of person and the type of competitor they're getting as well.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Obviously, he wasn't the only Nitney Lion draft that you
guys had. Six players drafted, Breton Strange in the second round,
just Scrugs in the second, jay Or Brown in the third.
We were just talking about the Packers though, and talking
about the playmakers they drafted for Jordan Love. They also
drafted your quarterback Sean Clifford in the fifth round. James,
What are they getting there in Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Well, it's a great story.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
You know, here's a guy that took kind of an
unconventional path, was at Penn State, you know for six years,
used the COVID year to come back and trusted me
in the program and really himself and came back for
that sixth year, played extremely well for US, played unbelievable,
probably played his best game in the bowl game of
(10:54):
his career in the Rose Bowl against Utah, and now
ends up getting drafted. He'll probably higher than he anticipated,
but he's great in the meeting rooms. Football IQ is
off the charts. He'll prepare the right way.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
I think they're going to really like.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
I thought it was pretty cool that he got another
shot to play in the Rose Bull granted before a
much smaller crowd at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl the College
All Star Games. So finished at the Rose Bowl and
then came back to the Rose Bowl as well. So
we had Jeff Hafley on from Boston College a couple
of weeks ago. We're talking about Zay Flowers and how
important it was for his program that Zay Flowers decided
to pass on the NFL draft, pass on the transfer portal,
(11:33):
and go back to play last season. Olufashanu had a
similar decision here at the top ten would have looked
a lot different last Thursday. If your left tackle decided
to throw his name in this draft, why did he
come back, coach, and what does it mean for your program?
Speaker 6 (11:54):
Well, you know, it's probably different than you're going to expect.
I met with him and his family and told him
that he really should strongly consider coming out based on
all the projection and all the information I was getting.
Speaker 7 (12:06):
But him and the family.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
Had always planned on being here four years. He's a
phenomenal student. He's got a chance to be an academic
All American here as well. He has not graduated yet.
He wanted to graduate and finish his degree. But the
other thing that's kind of crazy is at the time
that we were having this discussion, Olu was only nineteen
(12:29):
years old, so that factored into the decision as well.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
And obviously we're.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Happy to have him back and have a plan on
how we're going to handle him. You know, what we
did this spring and then what we're going to do
in training camp as well.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
But mom and Dad have been phenomenal and Olu's been phenomenal,
and we want to make sure, just like we have
with other players, that this turns out to be the
right decision for him and the program.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Insane.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Only nineteen years old, he would have been to the
top ten, maybe the first tackle taken. And I remember
he gave an interview after he made the decision, and
so one said, hey, do you think you're ready and
he didn He said, yes, but he's coming back. You
guys are better for it. He'll be better for it
as well. James Franklin, head coach at Penn State, Thanks
for coming on. Hope to see us soon.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Thank you, have a great day, you.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Too, James Franklin. Everybody live there in Happy Valley.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
The going to.
Speaker 8 (13:25):
Withy both pick in the twenty twenty three NFL Draft,
the Indianapolis Colts collect Anthony Richardson qurterback Florida.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You will be going back to Indianapolis where he crushed
the combine and he is the quarterback of the moment.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I'm good, dynamic, Claire clair Francis.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You know I'm gonna work car I'm gonna be a leader,
but it's time to make my own legas and now
no more chouncterize.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Anthony Richardson left enjoy it all.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
He's happy to thank you, and that moment begins this
weekend where the Colts get on the field for some
rookie minicamp work. There is Anthony Richardson with the owner
of the Indianapolis Colts, mister Jimersay, holding up that number
one new jersey. It's a new feel there for Nicole
Shane Stich. It obviously hy theer Stacy Dales and Cam
(14:11):
Wolfe as the head coach and the guy putting together
this offense. And it wasn't just Richardson. They drafted to
try to give this offense a little youth. Yeah, there's
no question.
Speaker 9 (14:21):
I mean, they obviously added Josh Downs, but it all
starts with Anthony Richardson, Andrew and Cam and you know,
here's the blueprint, very simply teaching the lingo and the terminology,
get the fundamentals in order, and then let his talent
come to life, very much similar to the way general
manager Chris Ballard said he comes to life in terms
of his poise in the pocket when he is under duress.
(14:43):
So they want to let that talent flourish and let
those instincts play out. When I asked Anthony Richardson what
excites him most about Shane Steiken's offense and how he
will specifically thrive in it, he told me this and
I loved his response. I love how confident he is
in me and how much he believes that I will
do great things here. So there is all that mindset
(15:06):
instilled within this young man that is impressive. I just
mentioned Josh Downs. I love the fact that you compare
a wide receiver in the third round out of North
Carolina with Anthony Richardson and the talent that already exists
on this roster. This is a production machine when you
think about him in terms of his ability in the slot.
I remember being at the combine guys and he said,
nobody's quicker than I am. He is a competitor through
(15:29):
and through. And he told us also at the Combine,
I have been working the route tree since I was
in the sixth grade.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
This is a football player.
Speaker 9 (15:35):
He loves football and a really good culture fit. Kim
there in Indianapolis.
Speaker 10 (15:40):
Stacy, I love what you said about his confidence, the
colt's confidence in him, and that's one thing you know,
talking with people close to Richardson.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
He had a top thirty visits with six other teams.
Speaker 10 (15:50):
He loved Indy's visit because he could tell their belief
in him.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
And I love what their owner, Jim Ursay.
Speaker 10 (15:56):
Said, Hey, he's got to play early. There was a
lot of speculation of oh, you got to sit him
for a year or two await because he may not
be quote unquote ready. Well, he's a guy who had
thirteen starts. The best way to get a guy ready
is to play him. And I also think there's a
misconception in Anthony Richards's game that you have to rebuild
his whole throwing motion. I spent a week with them
(16:16):
in Jacksonville in the pre draft process. He throws that
ball pure, you could hear it like a whistle, but
he has no hitches in his throws. And I've talked
to gms and head coaches who believe that he's going
to develop quicker than a lot of people realize it.
And you mentioned just the coaching element there. Shane Steichen
was there with Jalen Hurts. They've talked about implementing some
of the elements that Shane did with Jalen to get
(16:37):
that development with Anthony early on. And so I could
easily see three or four years from now, we're talking
about Anthony Richardson as the best quarterback in this draft,
and clearly the Colts believe that too.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
He was drafted four. We had Bryce Young obviously drafted one.
Cam he's on the field next weekend with the Panthers
for their rookie mini camp. What are some of the
early things we're looking for there?
Speaker 10 (16:59):
Yeah, I can't wait to see his relationship with their
second round pick, Jonathan Mingo.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
The Panthers absolutely love Mingo.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
In fact, they drafted him with the idea of those
two growing together. Andy Dalton is the Panthers backup quarterback.
And if you remember back in the day, the Bengals
drafted AJ Brown and Emmy AJ Green and they grew
together AJ Green and Andy Dalton. They have pictures of
Bryce Young and Mingo doing the same thing. And so
they've purposely surrounded Bryce Young with a group of big receivers.
(17:28):
All four of their top receivers are six two or taller,
so that Bryce Young can be that point guard for
them and get the ball to their playmakers. And I
remember just the lasting scene of my week in Carolina
with Bryce. There was about thirty minutes where he stood
on the field inside the stadium talking with Frank Reich,
their head coach, and their quarterback coach, Josh McCown, really
(17:48):
just soaking in the moment of what it means to
be the Carolina Panthers franchise quarterback. This is a team
that expects Bryce Young to be able to help them
compete for NFC South title in year one, and by
year two and year three, maybe even more.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
The Tennessee Titans hope to be competing for an AFC
South title yet again, Stacy Dales, which has heard from
Ryan Tannehill who said, we've been down this road before
a little bit of deja voo, and that is seeing
his team draft a quarterback last year in the leak Willis.
This year it's Will Levis in the second round. What
went behind that move for new GM brand Carthon to
go get the Kentucky quarterback.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
Andrew This is a really good point you raised, because
it's not just that the Titans drafted a quarterback, it's
the way in which they did it. They moved up
eight spots to the top of round two at thirty
three overall and took Will Levis. I really believe Will
Levis had a first round grade on their draft board,
but they literally could not pass on eleven with Peter Skaransky,
(18:44):
the tackle slash guard, because he was just too good
on their board. They coveted him so much. They only
had first one first round pick, so they take Skoronsky
at eleven and they move up that much to get
Will Levis. And I think they, more than anybody, had
the best process with Levis, who's just so intense, but
he's obviously been in the last two seasons in Pro
(19:05):
Style offenses, and you know, it was interesting when you
think about Levis and his comments after he said, I
didn't want to fall in love with one team through
the draft process because like that's out of my hands.
But if there was one that I did, it was
the Tennessee Titans, and it was really the meetings that
they had. The GM Ron Carthon talked about his diligency
(19:26):
in terms of how hard he works, extremely intelligent and bright,
but hardwired and tough. Will Levis comes across a little
bit hardwired and tough, and what a perfect fit in
a Mike Vrabel type team with all of the toughness
that he exudes as the head coach of this franchise.
And then ultimately and what they're trying to do to
(19:48):
move forward offensively, how good will that play action be
if Will Levis is back there now, Ryan Tannehill, this
is his team, but he certainly she'll be looking over
his shoulder right now. It is Tannehill obviously the starter,
Malik Willis is the backup, and then third on that
quarterback depth chart is will Levis. But he going to
(20:08):
put the work in now and it'll be interesting to
see how it plays out in Tennessee, but.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
With Tannehill only with one year left of money on
that contract. Titan's rookies on the field next week for middicamp.
Thanks Stacy, and thank you. So we talk a lot
about Fau the number thirty one pick, the Chief's first pick.
Let's talk about their second round pick. That's for she
(20:32):
Rice third in the FBS last year with nearly fourteen
hundred yards receiving. He caught ninety six passes and now
(20:56):
he's catching passes either James Palmer from Patrick Mahomes. And
the reason he was holding up his phone he had
his number. Not that he couldn't have met him along
the road, but he met him actually throwing or working
with the Chiefs during their offseason program a couple of
weeks ago in Texas.
Speaker 11 (21:11):
He had a chance to throw at Patrick Mahomes. Not
the only receiver in this draft that went down to
Texas and had a chance to throw with Pat As
General manager Brett Beach calls it the Patrick Mahomes effect.
Everybody wants to go down and throw with them, and
Mahomes obviously does report back to Beach and head coach
Andy Reid and gives him his opinion on these receivers,
and if you look at Rice.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
He really feels a need that they were looking to fill.
Speaker 11 (21:32):
There was a thought when the offseason hit they were
going to be bringing back Jujus Smith Schuster. He was
in their plans, but then he ends up getting the
money from New England that they were never going to match.
And now they believe Rice comes in with a similar
body type to kind of fill that role. A guy
that is a bigger bodied receiver at six foot over
two hundred pounds that can be a bigger slot type guy.
They think they can move them in different spots. They
(21:53):
love the way he is yards after the catch, kind
of like Kadarius Tony Kindea, like some other guys in
the mix here, the way he attacks the football. He
thinks he plays football like DeAndre Hopkins. Now, if that
ends up happening, that would be great for the camp
into the City Chiefs. But what he does fill is
he creates another player for Patrick Mahomes to be able
to move around. That's essentially kind of these chess pieces
(22:13):
that they find different spots. And Steve Smith, our colleague Andrew,
absolutely raves about Rice that he catches everything, very smart receiver,
This is another guy that fills a role that they
thought was going to be filled by Juju Smith Schuster
and ends up filling it in the draft.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Right, and the more weapons you can have, the more
fun that offense will always be. With Patrick Mahomes, let's
go to Denver, James, where you are. We've spent months
talking about maybe Sean Payton, George Payton trade one of
their wide receivers. They've got a surplus. Well they didn't
do that. They said they weren't going to do that,
but then they went out and with their first pick,
they don't have a lot of draft capital, they drafted
(22:48):
another wide receiver in Marvin Mims.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
That was then interesting part.
Speaker 11 (22:53):
Right, everybody was going, well, maybe they're going to trade
one of these wide receivers or from draft.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Capital, that's where they're a little bit deeper.
Speaker 11 (22:59):
And then they go with their first pick and they
even move up to get Marvin Mims. Now there was
a group of receivers that they were in interest in there,
he was the one that they really were targeting and
wanted to make sure they got, so they did move up.
And then after that happened. My understanding this they didn't
get a couple of calls they won. Does this mean
now you're going to move somebody, But it doesn't look
like that's.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
Going to happen.
Speaker 11 (23:16):
Remember, they picked up the fifth year option on Jerry
Judy and Mims kind of fills that role right now.
That you saw kJ Hamler in who now has the
injury this offseason. It's going to be a little while
for him to come back. He is a speedster. They
love the speed and the versatility to play. He played
about fifty percent of the time in the slot, fifty
percent of the time outside. We know that Sean Payton
interchanges his receivers all over the field, but it's also
(23:38):
the special teams aspect. It has been a big focus
for Sean Payton since he arrived in Denver to fix
the special teams in Denver, one of the worst in football.
Andrew he believes that Mike Westoff, who came with him
to be the assistant head coach and help with the
special teams, one of the best special teams coaches that
he's ever seen. Mims is going to come in there
and probably be that punt returner day one. He fills
(23:59):
a couple of needs being a part of that group,
in the receiver corps, but also on the special teams
side of things, which.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Is a desk need right now in Denver, Marvin Memsy,
guy that has led Oklahoma and receiving in three consecutive seasons.
Thank you James Palmer there with the latest on the Broncos.
Let's get almost all the AMC West in this conversation.
Let's get to the Chargers now. Justin Herbert entering year
number four, it is time to give him a new contract.
The Chargers know that, and they also know that Labar
(24:27):
Jackson and Jalen Hurts just got new deals as well.
Here's Tom Plesco yesterday on Serious XM.
Speaker 8 (24:35):
I wouldn't say there's any quarterback contract out there that's
a blueprint. I wouldn't say that at all. But like
anything else, and Bill knows this, like, there'll be contracts
that are talked about and you know, will cherry pick
some things out of that contract. We like, the agent
will cherry pick some things out of that contract that
he likes. But in the end we'll get to a
compromise at some point of something that works for everybody.
(24:57):
And that's what we'll do here. I don't know when
it will get done. I don't really have a time
frame for it, to be honest with you, but we'll
get there.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Tom Telesco also knows how they're omar ruiz that you
have to put some weapons around justin Herbert. They were
doing there in Kansas City as well around Patrick Mahomes.
Quentin Johnston is their first first round wide receiver since
Mike Williams, who.
Speaker 12 (25:19):
Is now in the room with him, and talk about explosiveness,
that's a key word that the Chargers have been talking
about in retooling this offense with Kellen Moore as a
new offensive coordinator. They were tied for twenty seventh in
the league last year in big plays. They feel Quinton
Johnson is a big part of that. Obviously can stretch
the field with his size, speed and catch radius, but
(25:39):
also gives the versatility with his catch and run ability
and also that fiz fly sweep. And we mentioned being
in the same room with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen
learning from them. He also had one of the great
moments of draft weekend. Check out what he did on
Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
You can get prepared for him moment.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
So much of action life, Holley like you've never been there,
and then once.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
You're completely different feeling. I wasn't expecting to have the emotion.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
That I had. I just want to get mixed. OU
out to my mom.
Speaker 11 (26:12):
So when you playing on two weeks and the nice.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Another day.
Speaker 12 (26:25):
Shout out NFL Films for capturing that one of the
incredible moments that we saw over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
So Quentin Johnson, Mom, you don't have to work anymore.
Come on, move to Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
You'll love it here.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
The weather's nice, except this year, speaking of weather like Seattle,
the weather sometimes nice. Let's get back to the Seahawks.
We spoke before about Devin Witherspoon. They drafted a wide
receiver in JSN. Obviously at twenty they were searching really
all last year for that number three guy behind DK
Metcalf and.
Speaker 12 (26:54):
Tyler Law and they feel like they haven't now. Jackson
Smith in Jigma, somebody that John Schneider said was a
complicated evaluation because he hurt his hamstring in the seventh
play of the season and obviously try to fight through
it a couple weeks later, but couldn't really have ended
his season early. Had he had a season in twenty
twenty two like he did in twenty twenty one, probably
(27:14):
wouldn't have been there at number twenty for the Seattle
Seahawks to add to the mix in DK Metcalf and
Tyler Lockett, two players that certainly Jackson Smith in JIGMA
could learn from behind. But when you look at his
twenty twenty one tablet the Seahawks did, especially that Utah
game in the Rose Bowl, won the all time great
performances fifteen catches, three hundred and forty seven yards, three touchdowns,
(27:36):
And when they're evaluating that, they're looking on the field,
he's sharing the wide receiving room with Garrett Wilson and
Chris o'lavey, guys that came in right away and made
a huge impact in the NFL. Obviously Garrett Wilson the
offensive Rookie of the Year, and for JSN to pop
like that the way he did with those players that
somebody that Gino Smith they feel will love right away.
(27:57):
Now the compete mentality there in Seattle, he's going to
have to earn everything. But something that they were impressed
with is his size in his lower box is able
to contort and the physical strength that it provides there
with his body, something that when they saw him in
person at that pro day at Ohio State really jumped
out to them much more so than it did on
his tape.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
All Right, the draft, a couple of running backs and
consecutive years, and now at a wide receiver to the
mix there as well. For Gino Smith, Thank you allmar
Ruiz the latest on the Seahawks. That's the key here
for these gms. You build around the quarterbacks, whether it's
building around Gino Smith that's what John Schneider did, or
building around Kendy Pickett or Jordan Love. Which of these
(28:38):
quarterbacks though, is in the best position now after seeing
what their gms did. That's the path to the draft
hit today, Rhett.
Speaker 13 (28:47):
Hi, what's up, friends, Welcome back inside the Path to
the Draft studio here, Rett Lewis, Bucky Brooks and Daniel
Jeremiah back here with you with the draft in the
rear view, looking at some quarterbacks that got some help,
because after all, it's about supporting your quarterback or trying
to get after the opposing quarterback in this game.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
But let's talk about the guy got some help. Buck,
you want to leave us off when you got here
for us?
Speaker 2 (29:08):
How about Jordan Love.
Speaker 14 (29:09):
Jordan Love is tasked with the responsibility of replacing Aaron Rodgers.
So the Green Bay Packs decided to help him out.
Added too tight ends in the draft to try and
make the game easier for him. Luke Muskraft took a
craft come over. They give them presents over the middlefield.
Then you go back and you think about what he
had last year, ring your dubs, Christian Watson. They now
had a full, complete wide receiver court. They should allow
(29:31):
him to play at his best. A lot of expectations
for him, and so what they did is tried to
make the game easy.
Speaker 15 (29:36):
You've got putting two big guys over the millonfield. Yeah,
I'm going to go to Pittsburgh and Kenny Pickett. You know,
I think about Kenny Pickett. He needed some help and
it was an easy trip. They just went down to Athens,
they went down to Georgia, just grabbed picked up a
couple of pieces, and we're.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Gonna bring him back.
Speaker 15 (29:50):
We're gonna plug him into the Steelers' offense. Think about
Roderick Jones, their first round pick, the left tackle. When
you watched them run the rock at Georgia last year,
and you watched them get after people. It was usually
on that left side with Broderick Jones, and then next
to him was the big tight end and Darnell Washington
new you hear catch the ball in the middle of
the field. So those guys are going to help the
run game with Naja Harris, which is going to put
(30:10):
Kenny Pickett in a lot more favorable down in distance.
That's gonna make his life a lot easier. Let's get
him out of third and eight, nine, ten plus. I
think Kenny Pickett takes a big step forward. And one
of the other reasons why is because he's going to
be thrown to a second year wide out from Guessware
from Georgia.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Yeah, George, take the Georgia Bulldogs.
Speaker 15 (30:28):
All this talk about Eagles.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
It's the state.
Speaker 13 (30:31):
It's the state of Pennsylvania that apparently is a big
fan of the two time back to back national champion
Georgia Bulldogs and man one two punch of tight end
is kind of intriguing now in Pittsburgh too with Pat
Fryarmouth and now Darnell Washington, and then you talk about
the Packers getting a pair of tight ends. This draft
interesting how they try to help their young quarterbacks in
(30:52):
that position group. A lot more on the way, one
more time here on Path to the Draft tonight at
sixth Eastern, right here on an NFL network.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
It is the path to the Draft season finale.
Speaker 13 (31:04):
We have I jinks, we have recaps, We've got everything
that you want to see about this draft and are
run up to it coming up for you tonight.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
A's sex, We'll see that. NFL Now is a production
of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more podcasts
from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you get your podcasts.
NFL Now is a production of the NFL in partnership
with iHeartRadio. It is a big day here on NFL
Now because it is our last day for a little bit,
going on a hiatus. We do this every May post
draftso we'll have fun, make it good, and we're happy
(00:27):
that you're here with us. From our newsroom in Los Angeles.
My name is Andrew Ceciliana. Ryan Tannehill's on the podium
in Nashville. Will tell you what you had to say
coming up in a little bit. We open this show
with news, not surprisingly from New York News, that Aaron
Rodgers is getting another one of his buddies to the Jets.
Tom Pelsero have this news this morning. It's the fact
(00:47):
that Randall Cobb is going to New York. Not exactly
a shocker. Their BFFs. They do discount double check commercials together.
But cob is going to be thirty three come August.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
But why not.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It'll be a crowded Wide receiver room. But Tom, it'll
do nothing, you know, to cut down on the Twitter
snark that Rodgers is actually GM He's not. It is
Joe Douglas's job. He did the drafting, but it is
another one of Aaron's buddies.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Aaron Rodgers Randall Cobb are very close friends, and Aaron
Rodgers has spoken multiple times in the past spout he
sees value in keeping older players who might want one
more run at a ring. So he brings Randall Cobb,
the latest former Packer who is going to be headed
to New York on a one year deal. As you mentioned,
Randall Cobbs can be thirty three before the season. He
(01:40):
made one Pro Bowl. He was back in twenty fourteen,
which is nine years ago. At this point, nobody's going
to argue the Randall Cobb is not at this point
a declining player. But again, as you bring in a
new offense with Nathaniel Hack who's very close to Aaron Rodgers,
having a receiver who knows that offense in addition to
Alan Lazard can only help. And we'll see what type
of role if any Erana kobba acsually ends up playing
(02:02):
come the season. Aaron Rodgers, when he came back to
Green Bay in twenty twenty one, also made abundantly clear
if he was coming back, he wanted Randall Cobb to
be coming with him. The Packers traded for Randall Cobb
hit about eight hundred yards over two seasons combined. Here
and now he joins Garret Wilson and Alan Lazard and
me Coole Hardman and Corey Davis who's still on the roster,
and Denzel Mims who's still on the roster. It's going
(02:24):
to be an interesting group to see how this shakes
out and how much, if at all, Randall Cobb gets
on the field.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
He has caught more than five hundred passes from from
Aaron Rodgers, so there certainly has to be some value there.
He can still make some plays. But as we talked
about last hour, what happens if one day Joe Douglas
has to cut Randall Cobbs has become like a Jay
Coomero on the podium. Situation remains to VC. Thank you
Tom Pellisero there. Appreciate you Tom. With the latest Rogers
(02:50):
always having fun with his new teammates. He praised Joe
Douglas when he signed last week when the trade went
down for drafting guys like Aaron Wilson or this guy,
saw Us Gardner. They went to the Knicks game last night.
It's that course side saw the Knicks win, go up
two games to none on the heat like you know,
who wasn't there. We haven't seen Garrett Wilson out on
the town.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Hey man, I just I just asked him this morning.
I said, I was trying to figure ouhy I couldn't
get though tickets to the to the next game yesterday,
and I was watching the ESPN broadcast. I see him
and Sauce and and all that they their group taking
up all the seats, you know, so I got to
figure out how I can get in with them, and
and uh buma seat.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
We know we have in this room.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
We know we've known what we've had in this room,
and then you add someone like that, with the accolades
that he has and the ability that he has, you know,
it's it's I mean, we we expect to compete with
you know, everyone in the league, be everyone in the league,
be one of the better teams in the league. You know,
we'd expect to do that. And you know that's always
been the mindset. And when we did it follow through
(03:50):
on that, we know we've always been upset. But you know,
I'd be lying if I said that we had someone
you know, if Aaron Rodgers pedigree and the expectation you know,
it doesn't go up a little bit, you know, and
and you know that's that's.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
That's how it is, and this and this industry, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
So we're excited to have him, and we know what
comes with that. We know that all of a sudden,
you know, eyes are on us, and that we got
we got to back it up every time we take
the field, you know, practice or game, and we're excited
to prove that every week.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Garrett Wilson reports.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
I kind of joke and gibts to say he's a
shut in, and hey, it's it's cool that Rogers is
there hanging out with sauce. But whether it's him or
Elijah Vera Tucker or some others today they use the
phrase like starstruck or surreal. I think they're still kind
of getting used to the fact that Rogers is there
and now they're getting Randall Cobb.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Listen.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
I think it's surreal for everybody, including the reporters, to
be honest, it is strange that Aaron Rodgers is out
there on the Jets practice field. I think Randall Cobb,
as you were pointing out earlier, let's see how this
shakes out with Randall Cobb and let's see where we are.
I don't think anybody expects that he is going to
be a monster contributor to the offense once the season starts,
(05:02):
but we have talked about this all along. The whole
point of this is to have Aaron Rodgers be as
comfortable as he can be and to accelerate everybody else's
learning curve. And if Randall Cobb and Alan Lozart can
help tell Garrett Wilson this is what he likes, this
is what he wants you to do, that's all to
the good for the New York Jets. The whole point
(05:23):
is to ease the transition. Aaron Rodgers has been very
candid about that that he knows that there is going
to be a learning curve. He has to learn his
new teammates. His new teammates have to learn him. This
is all part of the process. I don't know if
there are going to be any other former Packers joining
the Jets.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I wouldn't be surprised.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Certainly, the Randall Cobb arrival was not a surprise, but
I think seeing him out there, I don't think there's
any question Garrett Wilson is receiver number one. He is
a super talent and everything that comes after that is
just about trying to get this offense and these players
on the same page with Aaron Rodgers and with Nate
(06:02):
Hackett's offense.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Yeah, everyone's made the Jordy Nell's jokes or the Jay
Kumero jokes. We were joking about Eddie Lacy this morning
in the newsroom as well. I just texted James Jones
who says he can give a few reps, but only
in the red zone. Don't expect him to actually run.
Those are the jets up of the Giants. Because the
Giants duty actually have their rookies in rookie mini camp
this weekend. What are they expecting to see there in
(06:25):
East Rutherford.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
Well, we're going to get a look at a rookie
class that's really been widely heralded as an a class.
They at the first three picks, especially if the draft
addressed big needs for the New York Giants. Deontay Banks
the cornerback, which was the biggest need going into the draft.
Schmidt's the center. He's going to be a Day one starter.
They lost two centers in free agency, and then of
(06:47):
course the wide receiver Jalm Hyatt, which all of the fans.
Giants fans were waiting to see if they were going
to draft. Hyatt fell into their laps. There were some
people who thought he might go late in the first round,
and they grabbed him in the third. So these are
three picks that really could be Day one starters for
the New York Giants. We'll see what they look like
when they get on the fields. But this roster has
undergone a dramatic makeover, especially on the offensive side of
(07:11):
the ball. They've given Daniel Jones a whole bunch of
weapons this offseason, and now it is time to see
what it looks like with Daniel Jones in and as
we turn the page further into the off season, what
they do with Saquon Barkley's contract. When the draft ended,
they said they were going to reconnect with Barkley and
his camp and see if an extension made sense. That
(07:32):
was how they phrased it. So we will see if
it makes sense, and we'll see if there is an
extension in the offing.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Love Rookie Minicamps. First chance to see these guys in
their new jerseys on the field. Five years ago this Friday,
we did our show from East Rutherford just to see
Saquon Barkley in his Giants jersey for the very first time.
Gendie Batista, their life in New York. Thank you, Judy.
It's a pretty cool story here. I know the Deuce
(07:59):
Vaughn story was great with Cowboys's dad Chris Vaughn there obviously,
but the fact that Joey poured Junior is going to
his old man's team. He had to wait until Friday
with the first pick of the second round, but he
is a stealer. It's also Nitney Lai. Here's his head coach,
live from Hatty Valley. James Franklin joins us on NFL Now, Coach,
(08:20):
thanks for taking the time.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
How are you, Paulsome appreciate the opportunity to be with you, guys.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I know Joey wanted to go on Thursday, but this
just felt right, didn't it. This felt perfect. What was
your reaction when you saw the Steelers announce Joey Porter
Junior's name.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Yeah, it was hard, obviously, you sit in that draft
room and around all those families and those other great players,
and you know that's tough, you know, but he handled
it with class like he always does.
Speaker 7 (08:49):
Joey was raised extremely well.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
Mom and Dad did a phenomenal job with him, and
obviously he's got a lot of traits that NFL teams won.
You know, his length is unreal, especially when you talk
about his movement with thirty four inch arms and six
foot two and can flat out run. I think they're
gonna love them. So I'm just happy things worked out
(09:12):
the way they did. Obviously, you know, waiting to day
two was a little bit challenging, but then he came
off quickly and went to his hometown Steelers, which is awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
You know, some of the best conversations here's some of
the conversations that obviously coaches and GM's used the most
are conversations with head coaches like yourself. So how does
that conversation go though between you and say Mike Tomlin
when Mike Tomins known him since he was a little kid.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
Yeah, there wasn't a whole lot that we needed to
tell those guys.
Speaker 7 (09:41):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
You know, Joey's been not only around the organization since
the time he was a young kid. I loved that
picture right there, but even like in training camps and
everything else, he's just been around the you know, the
organization and the whole, you know, the whole organization.
Speaker 7 (09:58):
Knows him, obviously.
Speaker 6 (09:59):
Coach Tomlin knows him extremely well. So there's a lot
of value that comes with that. They know the type
of person and the type of competitor they're getting as well.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Obviously, he wasn't the only Nitney Lion draft that you
guys had. Six players drafted, Breton Strange in the second round,
just Scrugs in the second, jay Or Brown in the third.
We were just talking about the Packers though, and talking
about the playmakers they drafted for Jordan Love. They also
drafted your quarterback Sean Clifford in the fifth round. James,
What are they getting there in Green Bay.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Well, it's a great story.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
You know, here's a guy that took kind of an
unconventional path, was at Penn State, you know for six years,
used the COVID year to come back and trusted me
in the program and really himself and came back for
that sixth year, played extremely well for US, played unbelievable,
probably played his best game in the bowl game of
(10:54):
his career in the Rose Bowl against Utah, and now
ends up getting drafted. He'll probably higher than he anticipated,
but he's great in the meeting rooms. Football IQ is
off the charts. He'll prepare the right way.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
I think they're going to really like.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
I thought it was pretty cool that he got another
shot to play in the Rose Bull granted before a
much smaller crowd at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl the College
All Star Games. So finished at the Rose Bowl and
then came back to the Rose Bowl as well. So
we had Jeff Hafley on from Boston College a couple
of weeks ago. We're talking about Zay Flowers and how
important it was for his program that Zay Flowers decided
to pass on the NFL draft, pass on the transfer portal,
(11:33):
and go back to play last season. Olufashanu had a
similar decision here at the top ten would have looked
a lot different last Thursday. If your left tackle decided
to throw his name in this draft, why did he
come back, coach, and what does it mean for your program?
Speaker 6 (11:54):
Well, you know, it's probably different than you're going to expect.
I met with him and his family and told him
that he really should strongly consider coming out based on
all the projection and all the information I was getting.
Speaker 7 (12:06):
But him and the family.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
Had always planned on being here four years. He's a
phenomenal student. He's got a chance to be an academic
All American here as well. He has not graduated yet.
He wanted to graduate and finish his degree. But the
other thing that's kind of crazy is at the time
that we were having this discussion, Olu was only nineteen
(12:29):
years old, so that factored into the decision as well.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
And obviously we're.
Speaker 6 (12:34):
Happy to have him back and have a plan on
how we're going to handle him. You know, what we
did this spring and then what we're going to do
in training camp as well.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
But mom and Dad have been phenomenal and Olu's been phenomenal,
and we want to make sure, just like we have
with other players, that this turns out to be the
right decision for him and the program.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Insane.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Only nineteen years old, he would have been to the
top ten, maybe the first tackle taken. And I remember
he gave an interview after he made the decision, and
so one said, hey, do you think you're ready and
he didn He said, yes, but he's coming back. You
guys are better for it. He'll be better for it
as well. James Franklin, head coach at Penn State, Thanks
for coming on. Hope to see us soon.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Thank you, have a great day, you.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Too, James Franklin. Everybody live there in Happy Valley.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
The going to.
Speaker 8 (13:25):
Withy both pick in the twenty twenty three NFL Draft,
the Indianapolis Colts collect Anthony Richardson qurterback Florida.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You will be going back to Indianapolis where he crushed
the combine and he is the quarterback of the moment.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I'm good, dynamic, Claire clair Francis.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You know I'm gonna work car I'm gonna be a leader,
but it's time to make my own legas and now
no more chouncterize.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Anthony Richardson left enjoy it all.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
He's happy to thank you, and that moment begins this
weekend where the Colts get on the field for some
rookie minicamp work. There is Anthony Richardson with the owner
of the Indianapolis Colts, mister Jimersay, holding up that number
one new jersey. It's a new feel there for Nicole
Shane Stich. It obviously hy theer Stacy Dales and Cam
(14:11):
Wolfe as the head coach and the guy putting together
this offense. And it wasn't just Richardson. They drafted to
try to give this offense a little youth. Yeah, there's
no question.
Speaker 9 (14:21):
I mean, they obviously added Josh Downs, but it all
starts with Anthony Richardson, Andrew and Cam and you know,
here's the blueprint, very simply teaching the lingo and the terminology,
get the fundamentals in order, and then let his talent
come to life, very much similar to the way general
manager Chris Ballard said he comes to life in terms
of his poise in the pocket when he is under duress.
(14:43):
So they want to let that talent flourish and let
those instincts play out. When I asked Anthony Richardson what
excites him most about Shane Steiken's offense and how he
will specifically thrive in it, he told me this and
I loved his response. I love how confident he is
in me and how much he believes that I will
do great things here. So there is all that mindset
(15:06):
instilled within this young man that is impressive. I just
mentioned Josh Downs. I love the fact that you compare
a wide receiver in the third round out of North
Carolina with Anthony Richardson and the talent that already exists
on this roster. This is a production machine when you
think about him in terms of his ability in the slot.
I remember being at the combine guys and he said,
nobody's quicker than I am. He is a competitor through
(15:29):
and through. And he told us also at the Combine,
I have been working the route tree since I was
in the sixth grade.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
This is a football player.
Speaker 9 (15:35):
He loves football and a really good culture fit. Kim
there in Indianapolis.
Speaker 10 (15:40):
Stacy, I love what you said about his confidence, the
colt's confidence in him, and that's one thing you know,
talking with people close to Richardson.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
He had a top thirty visits with six other teams.
Speaker 10 (15:50):
He loved Indy's visit because he could tell their belief
in him.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
And I love what their owner, Jim Ursay.
Speaker 10 (15:56):
Said, Hey, he's got to play early. There was a
lot of speculation of oh, you got to sit him
for a year or two await because he may not
be quote unquote ready. Well, he's a guy who had
thirteen starts. The best way to get a guy ready
is to play him. And I also think there's a
misconception in Anthony Richards's game that you have to rebuild
his whole throwing motion. I spent a week with them
(16:16):
in Jacksonville in the pre draft process. He throws that
ball pure, you could hear it like a whistle, but
he has no hitches in his throws. And I've talked
to gms and head coaches who believe that he's going
to develop quicker than a lot of people realize it.
And you mentioned just the coaching element there. Shane Steichen
was there with Jalen Hurts. They've talked about implementing some
of the elements that Shane did with Jalen to get
(16:37):
that development with Anthony early on. And so I could
easily see three or four years from now, we're talking
about Anthony Richardson as the best quarterback in this draft,
and clearly the Colts believe that too.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
He was drafted four. We had Bryce Young obviously drafted one.
Cam he's on the field next weekend with the Panthers
for their rookie mini camp. What are some of the
early things we're looking for there?
Speaker 10 (16:59):
Yeah, I can't wait to see his relationship with their
second round pick, Jonathan Mingo.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
The Panthers absolutely love Mingo.
Speaker 10 (17:05):
In fact, they drafted him with the idea of those
two growing together. Andy Dalton is the Panthers backup quarterback.
And if you remember back in the day, the Bengals
drafted AJ Brown and Emmy AJ Green and they grew
together AJ Green and Andy Dalton. They have pictures of
Bryce Young and Mingo doing the same thing. And so
they've purposely surrounded Bryce Young with a group of big receivers.
(17:28):
All four of their top receivers are six two or taller,
so that Bryce Young can be that point guard for
them and get the ball to their playmakers. And I
remember just the lasting scene of my week in Carolina
with Bryce. There was about thirty minutes where he stood
on the field inside the stadium talking with Frank Reich,
their head coach, and their quarterback coach, Josh McCown, really
(17:48):
just soaking in the moment of what it means to
be the Carolina Panthers franchise quarterback. This is a team
that expects Bryce Young to be able to help them
compete for NFC South title in year one, and by
year two and year three, maybe even more.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
The Tennessee Titans hope to be competing for an AFC
South title yet again, Stacy Dales, which has heard from
Ryan Tannehill who said, we've been down this road before
a little bit of deja voo, and that is seeing
his team draft a quarterback last year in the leak Willis.
This year it's Will Levis in the second round. What
went behind that move for new GM brand Carthon to
go get the Kentucky quarterback.
Speaker 9 (18:23):
Andrew This is a really good point you raised, because
it's not just that the Titans drafted a quarterback, it's
the way in which they did it. They moved up
eight spots to the top of round two at thirty
three overall and took Will Levis. I really believe Will
Levis had a first round grade on their draft board,
but they literally could not pass on eleven with Peter Skaransky,
(18:44):
the tackle slash guard, because he was just too good
on their board. They coveted him so much. They only
had first one first round pick, so they take Skoronsky
at eleven and they move up that much to get
Will Levis. And I think they, more than anybody, had
the best process with Levis, who's just so intense, but
he's obviously been in the last two seasons in Pro
(19:05):
Style offenses, and you know, it was interesting when you
think about Levis and his comments after he said, I
didn't want to fall in love with one team through
the draft process because like that's out of my hands.
But if there was one that I did, it was
the Tennessee Titans, and it was really the meetings that
they had. The GM Ron Carthon talked about his diligency
(19:26):
in terms of how hard he works, extremely intelligent and bright,
but hardwired and tough. Will Levis comes across a little
bit hardwired and tough, and what a perfect fit in
a Mike Vrabel type team with all of the toughness
that he exudes as the head coach of this franchise.
And then ultimately and what they're trying to do to
(19:48):
move forward offensively, how good will that play action be
if Will Levis is back there now, Ryan Tannehill, this
is his team, but he certainly she'll be looking over
his shoulder right now. It is Tannehill obviously the starter,
Malik Willis is the backup, and then third on that
quarterback depth chart is will Levis. But he going to
(20:08):
put the work in now and it'll be interesting to
see how it plays out in Tennessee, but.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
With Tannehill only with one year left of money on
that contract. Titan's rookies on the field next week for middicamp.
Thanks Stacy, and thank you. So we talk a lot
about Fau the number thirty one pick, the Chief's first pick.
Let's talk about their second round pick. That's for she
(20:32):
Rice third in the FBS last year with nearly fourteen
hundred yards receiving. He caught ninety six passes and now
(20:56):
he's catching passes either James Palmer from Patrick Mahomes. And
the reason he was holding up his phone he had
his number. Not that he couldn't have met him along
the road, but he met him actually throwing or working
with the Chiefs during their offseason program a couple of
weeks ago in Texas.
Speaker 11 (21:11):
He had a chance to throw at Patrick Mahomes. Not
the only receiver in this draft that went down to
Texas and had a chance to throw with Pat As
General manager Brett Beach calls it the Patrick Mahomes effect.
Everybody wants to go down and throw with them, and
Mahomes obviously does report back to Beach and head coach
Andy Reid and gives him his opinion on these receivers,
and if you look at Rice.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
He really feels a need that they were looking to fill.
Speaker 11 (21:32):
There was a thought when the offseason hit they were
going to be bringing back Jujus Smith Schuster. He was
in their plans, but then he ends up getting the
money from New England that they were never going to match.
And now they believe Rice comes in with a similar
body type to kind of fill that role. A guy
that is a bigger bodied receiver at six foot over
two hundred pounds that can be a bigger slot type guy.
They think they can move them in different spots. They
(21:53):
love the way he is yards after the catch, kind
of like Kadarius Tony Kindea, like some other guys in
the mix here, the way he attacks the football. He
thinks he plays football like DeAndre Hopkins. Now, if that
ends up happening, that would be great for the camp
into the City Chiefs. But what he does fill is
he creates another player for Patrick Mahomes to be able
to move around. That's essentially kind of these chess pieces
(22:13):
that they find different spots. And Steve Smith, our colleague Andrew,
absolutely raves about Rice that he catches everything, very smart receiver,
This is another guy that fills a role that they
thought was going to be filled by Juju Smith Schuster
and ends up filling it in the draft.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Right, and the more weapons you can have, the more
fun that offense will always be. With Patrick Mahomes, let's
go to Denver, James, where you are. We've spent months
talking about maybe Sean Payton, George Payton trade one of
their wide receivers. They've got a surplus. Well they didn't
do that. They said they weren't going to do that,
but then they went out and with their first pick,
they don't have a lot of draft capital, they drafted
(22:48):
another wide receiver in Marvin Mims.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
That was then interesting part.
Speaker 11 (22:53):
Right, everybody was going, well, maybe they're going to trade
one of these wide receivers or from draft.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Capital, that's where they're a little bit deeper.
Speaker 11 (22:59):
And then they go with their first pick and they
even move up to get Marvin Mims. Now there was
a group of receivers that they were in interest in there,
he was the one that they really were targeting and
wanted to make sure they got, so they did move up.
And then after that happened. My understanding this they didn't
get a couple of calls they won. Does this mean
now you're going to move somebody, But it doesn't look
like that's.
Speaker 8 (23:15):
Going to happen.
Speaker 11 (23:16):
Remember, they picked up the fifth year option on Jerry
Judy and Mims kind of fills that role right now.
That you saw kJ Hamler in who now has the
injury this offseason. It's going to be a little while
for him to come back. He is a speedster. They
love the speed and the versatility to play. He played
about fifty percent of the time in the slot, fifty
percent of the time outside. We know that Sean Payton
interchanges his receivers all over the field, but it's also
(23:38):
the special teams aspect. It has been a big focus
for Sean Payton since he arrived in Denver to fix
the special teams in Denver, one of the worst in football.
Andrew he believes that Mike Westoff, who came with him
to be the assistant head coach and help with the
special teams, one of the best special teams coaches that
he's ever seen. Mims is going to come in there
and probably be that punt returner day one. He fills
(23:59):
a couple of needs being a part of that group,
in the receiver corps, but also on the special teams
side of things, which.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Is a desk need right now in Denver, Marvin Memsy,
guy that has led Oklahoma and receiving in three consecutive seasons.
Thank you James Palmer there with the latest on the Broncos.
Let's get almost all the AMC West in this conversation.
Let's get to the Chargers now. Justin Herbert entering year
number four, it is time to give him a new contract.
The Chargers know that, and they also know that Labar
(24:27):
Jackson and Jalen Hurts just got new deals as well.
Here's Tom Plesco yesterday on Serious XM.
Speaker 8 (24:35):
I wouldn't say there's any quarterback contract out there that's
a blueprint. I wouldn't say that at all. But like
anything else, and Bill knows this, like, there'll be contracts
that are talked about and you know, will cherry pick
some things out of that contract. We like, the agent
will cherry pick some things out of that contract that
he likes. But in the end we'll get to a
compromise at some point of something that works for everybody.
(24:57):
And that's what we'll do here. I don't know when
it will get done. I don't really have a time
frame for it, to be honest with you, but we'll
get there.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Tom Telesco also knows how they're omar ruiz that you
have to put some weapons around justin Herbert. They were
doing there in Kansas City as well around Patrick Mahomes.
Quentin Johnston is their first first round wide receiver since
Mike Williams, who.
Speaker 12 (25:19):
Is now in the room with him, and talk about explosiveness,
that's a key word that the Chargers have been talking
about in retooling this offense with Kellen Moore as a
new offensive coordinator. They were tied for twenty seventh in
the league last year in big plays. They feel Quinton
Johnson is a big part of that. Obviously can stretch
the field with his size, speed and catch radius, but
(25:39):
also gives the versatility with his catch and run ability
and also that fiz fly sweep. And we mentioned being
in the same room with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen
learning from them. He also had one of the great
moments of draft weekend. Check out what he did on
Thursday night.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
You can get prepared for him moment.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
So much of action life, Holley like you've never been there,
and then once.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
You're completely different feeling. I wasn't expecting to have the emotion.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
That I had. I just want to get mixed. OU
out to my mom.
Speaker 11 (26:12):
So when you playing on two weeks and the nice.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Another day.
Speaker 12 (26:25):
Shout out NFL Films for capturing that one of the
incredible moments that we saw over the weekend.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
So Quentin Johnson, Mom, you don't have to work anymore.
Come on, move to Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
You'll love it here.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
The weather's nice, except this year, speaking of weather like Seattle,
the weather sometimes nice. Let's get back to the Seahawks.
We spoke before about Devin Witherspoon. They drafted a wide
receiver in JSN. Obviously at twenty they were searching really
all last year for that number three guy behind DK
Metcalf and.
Speaker 12 (26:54):
Tyler Law and they feel like they haven't now. Jackson
Smith in Jigma, somebody that John Schneider said was a
complicated evaluation because he hurt his hamstring in the seventh
play of the season and obviously try to fight through
it a couple weeks later, but couldn't really have ended
his season early. Had he had a season in twenty
twenty two like he did in twenty twenty one, probably
(27:14):
wouldn't have been there at number twenty for the Seattle
Seahawks to add to the mix in DK Metcalf and
Tyler Lockett, two players that certainly Jackson Smith in JIGMA
could learn from behind. But when you look at his
twenty twenty one tablet the Seahawks did, especially that Utah
game in the Rose Bowl, won the all time great
performances fifteen catches, three hundred and forty seven yards, three touchdowns,
(27:36):
And when they're evaluating that, they're looking on the field,
he's sharing the wide receiving room with Garrett Wilson and
Chris o'lavey, guys that came in right away and made
a huge impact in the NFL. Obviously Garrett Wilson the
offensive Rookie of the Year, and for JSN to pop
like that the way he did with those players that
somebody that Gino Smith they feel will love right away.
(27:57):
Now the compete mentality there in Seattle, he's going to
have to earn everything. But something that they were impressed
with is his size in his lower box is able
to contort and the physical strength that it provides there
with his body, something that when they saw him in
person at that pro day at Ohio State really jumped
out to them much more so than it did on
his tape.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
All Right, the draft, a couple of running backs and
consecutive years, and now at a wide receiver to the
mix there as well. For Gino Smith, Thank you allmar
Ruiz the latest on the Seahawks. That's the key here
for these gms. You build around the quarterbacks, whether it's
building around Gino Smith that's what John Schneider did, or
building around Kendy Pickett or Jordan Love. Which of these
(28:38):
quarterbacks though, is in the best position now after seeing
what their gms did. That's the path to the draft
hit today, Rhett.
Speaker 13 (28:47):
Hi, what's up, friends, Welcome back inside the Path to
the Draft studio here, Rett Lewis, Bucky Brooks and Daniel
Jeremiah back here with you with the draft in the
rear view, looking at some quarterbacks that got some help,
because after all, it's about supporting your quarterback or trying
to get after the opposing quarterback in this game.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
But let's talk about the guy got some help. Buck,
you want to leave us off when you got here
for us?
Speaker 2 (29:08):
How about Jordan Love.
Speaker 14 (29:09):
Jordan Love is tasked with the responsibility of replacing Aaron Rodgers.
So the Green Bay Packs decided to help him out.
Added too tight ends in the draft to try and
make the game easier for him. Luke Muskraft took a
craft come over. They give them presents over the middlefield.
Then you go back and you think about what he
had last year, ring your dubs, Christian Watson. They now
had a full, complete wide receiver court. They should allow
(29:31):
him to play at his best. A lot of expectations
for him, and so what they did is tried to
make the game easy.
Speaker 15 (29:36):
You've got putting two big guys over the millonfield. Yeah,
I'm going to go to Pittsburgh and Kenny Pickett. You know,
I think about Kenny Pickett. He needed some help and
it was an easy trip. They just went down to Athens,
they went down to Georgia, just grabbed picked up a
couple of pieces, and we're.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Gonna bring him back.
Speaker 15 (29:50):
We're gonna plug him into the Steelers' offense. Think about
Roderick Jones, their first round pick, the left tackle. When
you watched them run the rock at Georgia last year,
and you watched them get after people. It was usually
on that left side with Broderick Jones, and then next
to him was the big tight end and Darnell Washington
new you hear catch the ball in the middle of
the field. So those guys are going to help the
run game with Naja Harris, which is going to put
(30:10):
Kenny Pickett in a lot more favorable down in distance.
That's gonna make his life a lot easier. Let's get
him out of third and eight, nine, ten plus. I
think Kenny Pickett takes a big step forward. And one
of the other reasons why is because he's going to
be thrown to a second year wide out from Guessware
from Georgia.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Yeah, George, take the Georgia Bulldogs.
Speaker 15 (30:28):
All this talk about Eagles.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
It's the state.
Speaker 13 (30:31):
It's the state of Pennsylvania that apparently is a big
fan of the two time back to back national champion
Georgia Bulldogs and man one two punch of tight end
is kind of intriguing now in Pittsburgh too with Pat
Fryarmouth and now Darnell Washington, and then you talk about
the Packers getting a pair of tight ends. This draft
interesting how they try to help their young quarterbacks in
(30:52):
that position group. A lot more on the way, one
more time here on Path to the Draft tonight at
sixth Eastern, right here on an NFL network.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
It is the path to the Draft season finale.
Speaker 13 (31:04):
We have I jinks, we have recaps, We've got everything
that you want to see about this draft and are
run up to it coming up for you tonight.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
A's sex, We'll see that. NFL Now is a production
of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more podcasts
from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Hosts And Creators
Patrick Claybon
Rhett Lewis
Steve Wyche
Andrew Siciliano
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